ACQUISITION an‎d DISSEMINATION OF BEST PRACTICES FOR SUSTAINABLE BUILDING PROJECTS

Sustainable building projects are complex and intensively knowledge-based because each project generates different lessons due to the involvement of a large number of issues and diverse stakeholders. Sustainable building design and construction suffers from a lack of knowledge about past experiences, whereas knowledge management can store past experiences that can be considered in future projects, making traditionally embedded/hidden knowledge available to all parties involved in sustainability issues. The characteristics of sustainable building projects are discussed, knowledge management models currently used in the construction industry are reviewed, and a simple “knowledge management process” is proposed that encompasses acquisition, storage, update, and dissemination of knowledge. A prototype web-based best practices database system is developed and populated by information about buildings designed with sustainable principles. It is observed that problems are experienced in sustainable design and construction when (1) sustainability-related decisions are not made as early in the design phase as possible; (2) issues are encountered with respect to choices relative to indoor environmental quality and energy performance technologies, and the selection of sustainable materials; and (3) decision-makers do not make use of lessons learned in previous experiences. The best practices system is of relevance to researchers since it is an original initiative in this field, and can be of benefit to practitioners who have limited experience in sustainable design and construction.